Amigeaux's Marks Grand Opening At Old Arby's In Joliet

JOLIET, IL — After several months of interior and exterior remodeling, plus a brand-new asphalt parking lot, Amigeaux's Sophisticated Street Food opened at 7 a.m. on Wednesday at the former Arby's restaurant on Joliet's West Jefferson Street.

Amigeaux's (pronounced like amigos) features indoor dining and a drive-thru window. Amigeaux's plans to stay open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and on Sunday it will be closed.

The three business partners own several Arby's restaurants, but Joliet marks their first new restaurant concept, a blend of Cajun, Tex-Mex and Southern California cuisine.

On Tuesday afternoon, the day before the grand opening, Joliet Patch visited Amigeaux's as its new employees were undergoing last-minute training.

Even though the Amigeaux's was not opening until Wednesday morning, several people had been pulling into the parking lot during the past week, thinking it was open, remarked Jeremy Moore, one of the three main business partners with Amigeaux's.

"A lot of people are coming through the last week or so trying to come in the entrance, wishing we could have served them already," Moore said. "We wanted to get open. There's a lot of big interest around us now. There's a lot of excitement. It's good to see. The menus are set. We're ready to go."

The Joliet Arby's at 2307 West Jefferson St. had remained closed since January 2020.

Amigeaux's has recruited at least 20 new employees to get started.

"We'd like to hire another 15 yet," Moore added.

The city of Joliet approved a liquor license for Amigeaux's. The new Joliet restaurant is now waiting for the state's approval, hoping that will come in the next week or so.

"Then we'll fire up our margarita machine," remarked John Thompson, another member of the investment group, and a native of Louisiana who has been in Joliet for months to oversee the remodeling of the Arby's restaurant into Amigeaux's.

Amigeaux's will feature a dozen different tacos, actually 13, if you count its breakfast taco.

"But if you're not in the mood for a taco, we've got various unique takes on sandwiches," Moore said. "I love our tacos, but are sandwiches are pretty delicious."

Most of the menu is priced between $3 and less than $9.

"We wanted to stay in the moderate price range," Thompson said.

What's the concept for Amigeaux's?

"Fast casual and fast service," Moore replied. "But everything is made from scratch and with fresh ingredients."